Tag Archives: occlumency

You’ll find the answers to yesterday’s quiz below. These may seem like trifling details in the Order of the Phoenix, but a good spy knows that you need all of the little details in order to see the whole picture. Let us know how you did in the comments!

1. Kreacher keeps a framed photo of his favorite person in his hovel. Whose picture?

Bellatrix Lestrange

2. What is St. Mungo’s full name?

St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries

3. Who transports the Weasleys and Harry to St. Mungo’s on Christmas day, probably in a stolen Muggle car?

So what is left to say about Snape?
That he was brilliant, brave, and a superb double agent.

Perhaps Harry says it best nineteen years later when discussing the possibility to his son that he may end up in Slytherin:

“Albus Severus, . . . you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.”

Significantly, Harry is told by Snape at one of his Occlumency lessons that Voldemort – when he was attacking Mr. Weasley and Harry was seeing it – realized that Harry was there and that Harry was able to see the attack through the snake’s (or Voldemort’s) eyes. When Harry asks how Snape knows this, Snape merely states, “it is enough that we know.”

And just as significantly, at one point Snape actually admits that he is the inside agent, the person who is spying for Dumbledore!

But Harry fails to understand the significance of what Snape had just told him! (Just as most if not all of the readers of the fifth booked failed to understand the significance of these words as well!)

Snape’s admission occurs in Book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, during one of Harry’s Occlumency lessons:

“Perhaps,” said Snape, his dark, cold eyes narrowing slightly, “perhaps you actually enjoy having these visions and dreams, Potter. Maybe they make you feel special — important?”

“No, they don’t,” said Harry, his jaw set and his fingers clenched tightly around the handle of his wand.

“That is just as well, Potter,” said Snape coldly, “because you are neither special nor important, and it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters.”

“No — that’s your job, isn’t it?” Harry shot at him.

He had not meant to say it; it had burst out of him in temper. For a long moment they stared at each other, Harry convinced he had gone too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on Snape’s face when he answered.

“Yes, Potter,” he said, his eyes glinting. “That is my job. Now, if you are ready, we will start again . . .”

Yes, Potter, that is my job. Wow! A clear revelation of the truth – that is instantly ignored and given no significance – until much later when we know the truth about a very good double agent named Severus Snape!